Students studying subjects ranging from medicine to law and criminology have won $25,000 scholarships.

Zoe Exon, Sydney Rego, Casey Schuler, Chrysda Smith and Shayla Smith won Nicholl Scholarships, named after Albert Nicholl, a philanthropist who left most of his estate to promote education in Bermuda.

Zoe, 18, from Pembroke, said the award was “a great honour — I was very happy and appreciative to learn that I was selected as a recipient”.

She will start a medical degree this September at St Barts and Queen Mary University, part of the University of London.

Zoe said: “Once qualified as a doctor, I hope to return to Bermuda to aid with the medical care of my community.

“Thanks to the generosity of the committee, my financial burden has been lightened and I am one step closer to achieving this goal.”

Shayla, 21, from Warwick, has already graduated from Dalhousie University in Canada with a double major in philosophy and Spanish.

She said: “I will be commencing the two-year LLB Law graduate programme at the University of Leeds in the fall.

“It is both an honour and a privilege to receive this scholarship as I pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer.”

The awards were handed out on July 31.

Chrysda, 18, from Hamilton Parish, is to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology at York University, Canada.

She will also play on the university’s field hockey team.

Chrysda, who was a 2019 Most Outstanding Teen special awardee, said: “I am extremely grateful for the faith that the Nicholl Scholarship committee has exhibited in me.”

She added: “This award demonstrates that hard work does pay off.”

Chrysda follows in the footsteps of her aunt, Wendy Woods, who was a recipient of the same scholarship in 1990.

Casey, 20, from Hamilton Parish, is embarking on the third year of a double major in justice and peace studies and theology, with a minor in Spanish, at Georgetown University in the United States.

She said: “I have chosen my majors out of an interest and desire to be an active participant in the betterment of my communities. This scholarship is one of my greatest achievements alongside being accepted into Georgetown.”

She added: “Like many US universities, the tuition is exceptionally high compared to universities in Canada or the UK, and so this scholarship has lessened that financial burden; I am honoured to have been chosen.

“Seeing all of the students who have won scholarships in the past makes me proud to be a part of such a talented generation of Bermudian students.”

The final winner was Sydney Rego, who will study for a Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Queen’s University in Canada.

Rick Spurling, one of the trustees administering the awards, said funds were “back in a good financial situation” after some years with only two awardees.

Mr Spurling said: “We try to give away virtually all the income, which we maintain through investment as well as the income of the fund itself.”

All of this year’s awardees were female, and Mr Spurling said trustees hoped to see more male applicants.

He added: “We see the top- of-the-line candidates. It’s exciting — they are very impressive young people, and it’s very encouraging, especially when you see some of the problems out there in the world.”

Mr Nicholl, known as Nicky, arrived in Bermuda from England in 1917, during the First World War, as chief examination officer of the Royal Navy Reserve at St George’s.

Students win $25,000 Nicholl Scholarships

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